Illuminated. Prints 1480 - 1600

This catalogue focuses on black and white prints and their role as a support. It examines samples of works ranging from the very beginnings of the hand-colouring of early printed books before 1500 to the so-called transition copies that begin to modify prints towards the end of the 16th century.

This catalogue is preceded by a small number of publications addressing our topic of illuminated and hand-coloured manuscripts: Gremlin who, in 1993 was the first to fully address the topic, and Dackerman, whose ground-breaking book from 2002 offers an overview until 1600, as well as Truusje Goedings, whose book from 2015 surveys 250 years. Goedings has made a substantial contribution on the maker of the prayer books, published here for the first time, and her discovery adds much to the understanding in this field that is included in our catalogue.

Booksellers affiliated to ILAB are based in 37 countries worldwide, organised in 22 national associations. The Czech antiquarian bookseller’s association, Svaz Antikváru ČR, one of ILAB's smaller member associations, currently counts 14 members across the country.

The endowment of the ILAB Breslauer Prize for Bibliography has recently been funded with a further generous donation of $25,000 from the B.H. Breslauer Foundation of New York — Submissions are currently being accepted for the 2022 prizes.

ILAB spoke to one of the newer members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, Anke Timmermann who jointly owns and runs the business Type & Forme with her partner Mark James: "...the printed book and manuscripts have lost none of their allure in the new millennium, and antiquarian books are arguably even better appreciated in recent years ... Social media, especially Instagram, have brought forth a new generation of bibliophiles..."